Madaline Pitkin
Madaline Pitkin, 26, of Portland, Oregon, died in 2014 while held at the Washington County jail in Oregon, where she was going through heroin withdrawal. Her family's lawsuit says she repeatedly asked for medical help on request forms and was denied care, including in a final written request describing being unable to keep food, liquids or medication down for six days. The family sued Corizon Health, the jail's contracted healthcare provider, and a federal court approved a $10 million settlement in December 2018.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). Her family's lawsuit says jail staff ignored her repeated requests for help as she suffered heroin withdrawal, and Corizon settled the suit for $10 million.
Reported by: family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued Corizon, the correctional healthcare company, and a federal court approved a $10 million settlement in December.